Image reading apparatus, image reading method and image reading system

ABSTRACT

To keep track of which process each process job currently exits and when it comes in own charge or which job must be processed, it is necessary to use a workflow system on a PC, and this necessitates to move back and force between the PC and the apparatus, thereby leading to the deterioration of the operational efficiency. An object of the invention is to provide a system in which the apparatus and the workflow server are connected, and by moving forward the processing by using the operation unit of the apparatus, the workflow of the operator in the centralized copy room and the print center of the company can be smoothly moved forward.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for smoothly executing a scanjob and a copy bookbinding job electronically received from anin-company orderer at the centralized copy or print center of thecompany and the like by an operator of the centralized copy or printcenter, and the like, and an image processing apparatus, and an ordermanagement apparatus.

2. Related Background Art

In general, as an operation by using an operation unit of the apparatus,heretofore, there has been proposed a push scan or a pull print. Forexample, in the case of the push scan, an original is loaded on a copyboard of an image reading apparatus, and by using the operation unit,the destination of a folder and the like within one's own PC isspecified, and after that, activation of a scan operation is performed.At this time, the setups of a reading mode of an image and a destinationand the like have been specified by using the operation unit of theapparatus.

In the meantime, in the case of the pull print, the URL of an externalapparatus is specified by using the operation unit of a printerapparatus, and the pages of the specified URL have been printed. At thistime, a print mode such as a type of the sheet, a both-side mode, a sortmode and the like has been specified by using the operation unit of theapparatus (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. H09-051397 andH11-134125).

In the centralized copy room and the pint center of the company, aplurality of operators execute in order high value-added editingoperations not creatable in an ordinary office by a plurality ofprocesses. To control each of these processes, there exists a workflowsystem on a PC. Heretofore, it has been necessary for the operator touse the workflow system on the PC to see at which process each processjob is currently located, and how soon it comes to his own charge orwhich job he has to process, and this has necessitated him to move backand forth between the PC and the apparatus, thereby leading todeterioration of operational efficiency. Further, to preventdeterioration of operational efficiency, there has been disclosed aninvention of a push scan or a pull print as a system which performs theprocessing by the operation unit only of the apparatus.

However, the push scan has been a job which is completed by a simpleprocess to scan an original and transmits it only to a predeterminedplace, and has not been associated with the workflow system on the PCthat performs the process management of the job requiring a plurality ofprocesses.

Further, a pull print is also a job which is completed by a simpleprocess for acquiring a document specified by an URL on the externalapparatus and printing it, and has not been associated with the workflowsystem on the PC which performs a process control of the job requiring aplurality of processes.

The present invention has been made in view of the above describedsituation, and an object of the invention is to provide a system where,through the association of the apparatus with the workflow server andthrough moving forward the processing by using the operation unit of theapparatus, the workflow of the operator in the centralized copy room andthe print center can be smoothly carried out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above described problems, the present invention consists ofthe following configuration.

A work processing apparatus for receiving a process job from an ordermanagement apparatus controlling an order from an orderer, comprising:

a transmitting means for transmitting identification information of anoperator and identification information of the work processing apparatusto the order management apparatus;

an acquiring means for acquiring information of the process jobextracted by the order management apparatus in response to theidentification information of the operator and the identificationinformation of the work processing apparatus transmitted by thetransmitting means; and

a display control means for displaying the information of a plurality ofprocess jobs acquired by the acquiring means in a display unit.

Alternatively, to solve the above described problems, the presentinvention consists of the following configuration. An order managementapparatus, comprising; storing means for storing the process job basedon an order from the orderer; identification information receiving meansfor receiving identification information on an operator andidentification information on an image processing apparatus from theimage processing apparatus connected to the order management apparatusby a network; extracting means for extracting information on acorresponding process job according to the identification information onthe operator and the identification information on the image processingapparatus received by the identification information receiving meansfrom the process job stored by the storing means; and process jobtransmitting means for transmitting the information on the process jobextracted by the extracting means to the image processing apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a whole block diagram of an image processing system;

FIG. 2 is a service order entry screen for an order entry Web server onan orderer PC;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are views explaining an order entry flow on the ordererPC;

FIG. 4 is a screen designating a print/bookbinding format in the orderentry flow;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are views explaining a processing flow of acopy/print order received;

FIG. 6 is a screen of an access soft from a manger PC to an ordermanagement apparatus 4;

FIG. 7 is a view explaining an order management information storage unit45;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus in a firstembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a view explaining operator information/processing method setupinformation;

FIG. 10 is a display screen of the list of information on a process jobin the operation unit of the image processing apparatus in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a detail display screen of information on a scan process jobin the operation unit of the image processing apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a detail display screen of information on a print process jobin the operation unit of the image processing apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an order management apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the image processing apparatus in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart 2 of the image processing apparatus in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart regarding the process job transmission of theorder management apparatus 4;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus in a secondembodiment;

FIG. 18 is a screen of an access soft from the manger PC to the ordermanagement apparatus 4 in the second embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a display screen of a list of information on a process job inthe operation unit of the image processing apparatus in the secondembodiment;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of the image processing apparatus in the secondembodiment;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus in a thirdembodiment;

FIG. 22 is a renewed screen of a workflow in the operation unit of theimage processing apparatus;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the image processing apparatus in the thirdembodiment;

FIGS. 24A and 24B are views explaining the order entry flow of a copyservice and an output/bookbinding service;

FIGS. 25A and 25B are views showing a screen performing a deliveryformat designation; and

FIG. 26 is a view explaining a processing flow of a scan order received.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment<Workflow System Configuration>

An image processing apparatus will be described as an example of thework processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a whole block diagram of an image processing system. Anorderer performs order entry of various services to be described laterfor an order entry Web server 3 from a PC-1 through an Intranet or anInternet 2. At this time, together with orderer information, thedesignation of a scan format, a print format, a bookbinding processformat, and a delivery format as well as an electronic data for use ofthe print and the like are transmitted to the order entry Web server 3through the Intranet or the Internet 2. In the meantime, a media such asCD-ROM and the like inputted with a paper original and an electronicdata for use of a print service, which becomes original data in the caseof using a scan service and a copy service is sent to an output footholdby physical conveying means such as an inter-office mail.

Various orders received by the order entry Web server 3 are transmittedto an output foothold server 4, and a manager PC 10 prepares processjobs which are individual works processed by each operator from theorders stored in the output foothold server 4. A CPU of the ordermanagement apparatus transmits the process jobs prepared by the managerPC to various apparatuses such as a PC9-1 and a PC9-2 of each operatorrequesting for the transmission, a MFP-A5, a scanner B6, a printer C7, afinisher 8, and the like. Then, a scan processing, a copy processing, anediting/process processing, a print processing, a finishing processingand the like are performed, and a printed matter and a bookbindingmatter and the like, which are the output of the processing result, aredelivered to the orderer by an inter-office delivery and the like. Inthe following description, the present embodiment handles the outputfoothold server 4 for controlling orders as the order managementapparatus 4.

<Order Processing of Orderer>

FIG. 2 is a service order entry screen for the order entry Web Server 3on the orderer PC 1. In this screen, six service order buttons 12 to 17are displayed. A “Output/Bookbinding Service” 12 is an entry button forordering an output/bookbinding, in which an electronic data is inputtedand printed in a specified format. This is a service for performing aspecified bookbinding (with staple or with cloth cover) for the printedresult matter and delivering it to a specified destination. Next, a“Poster/Panel Service” 13 is an entry button for ordering a poster panelservice, in which an electronic data is inputted and printed in alarge-sized paper in a specified format. Further, this is a servicewhich performs a specified panel process for the printed result matterand delivers it to a specified destination. A “Copy Service” 14 is anentry button for ordering the copy service, in which a paper original isinputted, and is scanned in a specified format, and is printed in aspecified format. Further, this is a service in which a specifiedbookbinding process is performed for the printed matter, which isdelivered to the specified destination.

A “Reorder Service” 15 is an entry button for ordering a reorderservice, which is a service performing the same order again as theservice ordered before, and does not require various types of setting uplabor and time since the same content as ordered before is ordered as itis. A “Storage Document Order Service” 16 is an entry button forordering a storage document order service, and this is a service whichspecifies a storage document stored in the output foothold, and printsit, and delivers it to a specified delivery destination. In this case,regarding each storage document, a print format is fixed. A “ScanService” 17 is an entry button for ordering a scan service, which inputsa paper original, and scans it in a specified format. This is a service,which performs a specified process regarding the scanned image data, andtransmits it to a specified destination.

FIG. 3A is a view of an orderer PC 1 when the input of electronic datais performed in the order entry flow of the output/bookbinding service.First, Row L101 specifies whether or not the electronic data iselectronically inputted or physically transmitted and inputted by usinga media such as CD-ROM. In case the data is electronically inputted, aninput original file name existing within the orderer PC is written inthe place of Row L102 or the input file name within the orderer PC isspecified by depressing a reference button 22.

Row L103 specifies the number of pages of the input original file. RowL104 specifies an OS when the input original file is prepared. Row L105specifies a preparation AP when an input file is prepared. Next, when anOK button 23 is depressed, these pieces of information are transmittedto the order management apparatus (output foothold server) 4 through theorder entry Web server. In case the input original file iselectronically inputted, at Row L102, the specified input original fileis also electronically transmitted to the order management apparatus 4through the order entry Web server. In the meantime, in case the inputoriginal file is inputted by a media, the media is delivered to theoutput foothold by using an inter-office delivery or a home delivery.The orderer performs the input of the electronic data regarding theorder thus placed.

FIGS. 24A and 248 are views explaining the copy service on the ordererPC and the order entry flow of the output/bookbinding service. In thecase of the copy service button, first, at step S11, the copy servicebutton 14 of FIG. 2 is selected. At step S12, the type of the paperoriginal to be described later in FIG. 3B and a processing at theoriginal reading time are specified. Next, at step S13, theprint/bookbinding format to be described later in FIG. 4 is specified.Next, at step S14, a delivery format to be described later in FIG. 25Ais specified. Next, at step S15, the order entry information to bedescribed later in FIG. 25B and the orderer information are confirmed,and an order is placed.

Next, in the case of the output/bookbinding service, at step S21, theoutput/bookbinding service button 12 of FIG. 2 is selected. Next, atstep S22, the input method of the electronic data to be described laterin FIG. 3A is specified. Next, at step S23, the print/bookbinding formatto be described later in FIG. 4 is specified. Next, at step S24, thedelivery format to be described later in FIG. 25A is specified. Next, atstep S25, the order entry information to be described later in FIG. 25Band the orderer information are confirmed and a temporary order isplaced. Next, at step S26, the procedure stands by until a proof printfor confirming the print result is delivered, and after confirming theproof print, at step S27, the proof is approved by telephone and mail.This approval of the proof and the print are performed in such a mannerthat, for example, in the case of 100 copies of the print, one copy onlyis printed, and after having confirmed whether or not a color and aformat are consistent with the orderer's intention, the remaining 99copies are printed. While a description on the order entry flow in thecase of the scan service has been omitted, the same setup as the copyservices at steps S12, S14, and S15 are performed.

FIG. 3B is a screen of the orderer PC on occasion when specifying theprocessing at the inputting and reading time of the paper original inthe order entry flow of the copy service and the scan service. First,Row L201 distinguishes whether or not the original is a bound bookoriginal or a sheet original and specifies a size of the original. InFIG. 3B, the book original of an A4 size is selected. Row L202 specifieswhether a color scan is made or a monochrome scan is made. Row L203specifies whether a document is single-sided or double-sided. Row 1204specifies whether or not the process such as a tilt correction, a dustremoval, a punch trace removal, and the like is performed at the scantime.

Similarly in the following, Row L205 specifies a setup regarding whatformat must be taken for the scanned image data. Row L206 specifies asetup of the reading resolution. Row L207 specifies a setup of thenumber of pages. Row L208 specifies a setup as to whether the scannedimage data is transmitted by E-mail or is put into a shared folder orput into a media and transmitted. Row L209 specifies the setup of thedestination. The orderer thus inputs a paper original regarding theorder, and at the same time, the client specifies the processing at thereading time.

FIG. 4 is a screen specifying a print/bookbinding service format in theorder entry flow of the copy/output/bookbinding service. Row L301specifies a print finishing size, and in FIG. 4, the A4 size isselected. Row 1302 specifies whether the print is made by color ormonochrome. Row L303 specifies whether the print is one-side print or aboth-side print. Row L304 specifies the type of the sheet used forprint.

Similarly in the following, Row L305 specifies a setup regarding a coversheet print. Row L306 specifies a setup of a bookbinding format as tohow the printed paper is bound. Row L307 specifies a setup regarding apunch processing for printed papers. Row L308 specifies a setupregarding the cutting processing of the edge for printed papers. RowL309 specifies a setup regarding the number of pages. The orderer thusspecifies a print/bookbinding format for the order thus placed.

FIG. 25A is a screen for performing a delivery format specification inthe order entry flow of the copy service and an output/bookbindingservice. First, Rows L401, L405, L409 are specifications as to in whichmethod the output matter of the copy service and the output/bookbindingservice are delivered to the orderer, and Row L401 is selected in thecase of dispatch by an inter-office delivery, Row L405 is selected inthe case of dispatch by a home-delivery, and Row L409 is selected in thecase of the orderer coming to a foothold for pickup. Rows L402 to L404specify the setups regarding the destination in the case of dispatch bythe inter-office delivery, and Rows L406 to L408 specify the setupsregarding the destination in the case of dispatch by the home delivery.Row L410 specifies the setup regarding a pickup schedule date in casethe orderer comes for pickup. The orderer specifies the delivery formatregarding the order thus placed.

FIG. 25B is a screen for performing order entry confirmation in theorder entry flow of various services. First, Row L501 shows the type ofa service to be ordered, Row L502 shows a display of rough estimate ofthe service to be ordered, and Row L503 is entered with a desireddelivery data. Rows L504 to L509 show confirmation displays ofinformation regarding the orderer. The orderer confirms the content, anddepresses an OK button 31. Then, the order entry of the service isperformed.

<Processing of Order Entry Acceptance System>

FIGS. 5A to 5C are views explaining a processing flow of the copy/printorder received by an order management apparatus 4. The received copyorder is classified into a simple copy order which may simply copy by acopier and an ordinary copy order which scans by scanner andelectronically performs an editing processing, and after that, performsa copy by printing. For example, the order selecting “no process” at RowL204 of FIG. 35 is taken as a simple copy order, and the order whichselects “process available” is taken as an ordinary copy order. Thesimple copy order, first, performs an order entry at step S31, and atstep S32, the procedure stands by until the paper original is delivered.At step S33, a copy job for copying the delivered paper original by acopying machine is executed, and at step S34, a bookbinding such as awrapping binding, binding with saddle stitch, and the like is performed.Next, at step S35, the bound book is delivered to the specified address,and a request for payment is made.

Next, in the case of the ordinary copy order, at step S41, the orderentry is made, and at step S42, the procedure stands by until the paperoriginal is delivered. At step S43, the scan job for scanning thedelivered paper original by scanner is executed, and at step S44, theprocess processing such as a tilt correction, a dust removal, a punchhole removal, and the like is performed for the scanned image data. Atstep S45, the image data processed for a later reorder is stored asoccasion demands. At step S46, a print job for performing a print byprinter is executed, and at step S47, a bookbinding process such as awrapping binding, a binding with saddle stitch, and the like isperformed. At step 48, the bound book is delivered to the specifiedaddress, and a request for payment is made.

With regard to each copy order thus received, there are the case wherethe operator processes it as an individual copy job, and the case wherethe operator processes it for every process job such as a scan job, anediting process job, and a print job. In the present embodiment, anindividual service ordered by the orderer is taken as an “order”, and toexecute this order, an individual work to be processed by each operatoris set up by the manager PC 10. This individual work is referred to as a“process job” and is distinguished as such.

Next, in the case of the print order, at step S51, an order entry ismade, and at step S52, the electronic data is received through the orderentry server or the procedure stands by until the media is delivered. Atstep S53, an editing/process processing such as a page numbering, aimposition or a color correction, and the like is performed to thereceived data. Next, at step S54, the electronic data treated withediting/process for a later reorder is stored as occasion demands. Atstep S55, a print job for performing one copy of a proof print byprinter is executed, and at step S56, that proof print is delivered tothe orderer so as to obtain a proof approval. At step S57, the remainingcopies of the print is performed, and at step S58, the bookbindingprocess such as a wrapping binding, a binding with saddle stitch, andthe like is performed. Next, at step S59, the bound book is delivered tothe specified address, and a request for payment is made.

FIG. 6 is a screen of the access soft from the manger PC 10 to the ordermanagement apparatus 4 in the first embodiment. In this screen, themanager confirms the state of each order, and at the same time, changeseach process/job of each order, and allots an operator for processingthe process/job. The operator referred to in the present embodimentmeans a person in charge who executes the process/job.

FIG. 26 is a view explaining a processing flow of the scan orderreceived. In the case of the scan order, at step S61, an order entry ismade, and at step S62, the procedure stands by until a paper original isdelivered. At step S3, the scan job is executed for the delivered paperoriginal, and at step S64, the process processing such as a tiltcorrection, a dust removal, a punch hole removal, and the like isperformed for the scanned image data. Next, at step S65, the image dataprocessed for a later reorder is stored as occasion demands. Next, atstep S66, the processed original is delivered to the specified address,and a request for payment is made.

Numeral 34 in FIG. 6 denotes a pull down list for selecting whichprocess/job of which operator is displayed in the display unit of themanger PC. For example, when the control unit of the manger PC 10recognizes that a “operator A” is selected, a view of the process andthe process job allotted to the operator A is displayed in the displayunit connected to the manger PC 10. Further, when an “All” is selected,as shown in FIG. 6, a view of information on the processes not allottedto any operator and all the processes including the process jobs and theprocess jobs is displayed.

Row L602 shows display items of information on each process and processjob, and an order ID of the order including the information on theprocess job, an orderer of the order, a delivery data of the order, atype of the order, a person in charge of the information on the processjob, and a processing state of the current processes and process jobsare displayed in the display unit connected to the manger PC 10. RowL603 shows a display of the content of the order ID “0055”, and Row L604shows a display of the content of an order ID “0080”. From among theorders displayed, an order taken as an operation target selected by themanger is recognized by the control unit of the manger PC 10. In FIG. 6,the control unit recognizes Row L604 as selected. In case the person incharge of the selected order is desired to be changed, a new operator isselected from the pull down list of Numeral 35 located in FIG. 6, and anoperator change button 36 is depressed.

Further, in case the process of the selected order is desired to bechanged, a new process is selected from the pull down list of Numeral 37located in FIG. 6, and a process change button 38 is depressed. Themanager controls the progressive situation of each process job of eachorder, and advances the process according to the progressive situation,and allots a new person in charge (operator).

FIG. 7 is a view explaining an order management information storageunit. The information regarding the order received by the order entryWeb server is transmitted to the order management apparatus 4, and theinformation regarding each order is controlled in a concentrated mannerin a DRAM 72, which is a storage unit of the order management apparatus4. A block diagram showing the configuration of the order managementapparatus 4 is shown in FIG. 13. First, in FIG. 7, the first order 42 isfor a scan order. Row L701 shows an order ID, Row L702 an order data,Row L703 a delivery data, Row L704 a type of order, Row L705 the currentperson in charge, and Row L706 the current process/process job. RowsL701 to L706 are order progress control information.

Row L707 shows a type of the original, Row 708 a size of the original,and Row L709 a type of color/monochrome original. Rows L709 to L711 showinformation on the original. Next, Rows L712 to L713 show a processingmethod of the process format of the scanned image data. Row L715 showsthe scanned image data. Row L716 shows information on the destination ofthe scanned image data, and Rows L718 to L719 show the name and contactaddress of the orderer.

Next, the second order 43 is for a print order. Similarly to the firstorder 42, the order management information storage unit controls variouspieces of order information, which are stored by the storage unit of theorder management apparatus 4.

As described above, since the process jobs stored by the ordermanagement information storage unit 45 include the processing methodwhich is the setup information on occasion when the process format atthe scan time and the print format at the print time are processed inthe image processing apparatus, all the operator need to do is just toreceive information on the process job in charge by himself, and thereis no need to set up the processing method by using the operation unitof the apparatus, and the operability is considered as improved. Thesetup content of the processing method set up here is set up by theorderer at the order entry time, and this is displayed as an order entryparameter in the operation unit of the image processing apparatus.

<Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus in First Embodiment>

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus 5 equivalentto the apparatus in the first embodiment. First, an image reading unit51 reads an original loaded to an image loading unit and generates animage data, and stores it in an image memory 52. The data stored in theimage memory 52 is transmitted to the PC of the orderer or the PCs ofthe order management apparatus 4 and each operator through a network I/F56 and a network 61.

The print job received from the order management apparatus 4 isdeveloped as a bit map data on the image memory, and is printed in animage forming unit 53.

At the copy time, the image data read by the image reading unit 51 isprinted in the image forming unit 53, and the copy is executed. Acontrol unit 55 performs a control of the whole apparatus, andinteriorly stores an apparatus ID which is identification information onthe image processing apparatus 5. An IC card reader writer 57 is forreading and writing the content of an IC card 58 for each operator. TheIC card for each operator is stored with operator information andprocessing method setup information 59. A HD 60 is for storing along-term or a short-term data and a program. An operation unit 54 isfor performing various operations by the operator. A liquid crystaldisplay unit disposed with a touch panel on its surface configures theoperation unit 54. Other apparatuses are also connected on the network,and each apparatus has a different apparatus ID.

While the image processing apparatus in the present embodiment, as shownin FIG. 8, is a complex machine comprising the image reading unit andthe image forming unit, an apparatus comprising either the image readingunit or the image forming unit is also handled as an image processingapparatus.

<Configuration of IC Card>

FIG. 9 is a view explaining operator information and processing methodsetup stored within each IC card of each operator. The information to bedescribed later is stored in a rewritable storage unit within the ICcard. Row L801 shows an operator ID which is an identificationinformation on the operator, and Row L802 shows an operator name. RowL803 shows a password 1 for determining whether or not the operator is alegitimate owner of the IC card. Row L804 shows a second password incase of performing the certification of the IC card by the ordermanagement apparatus 4. Since the password 2 is not to be inputted bythe operator, a complicated password having a large number of digits canbe used.

Row L805 shows an affiliation of the operator, and Row L806 shows acontact address of the operator. Rows L807 to L814 are for setting up inadvance a processing method in case this operator uses the apparatus ofan apparatus of ID=100. First, Row L808 shows an apparatus ID of thetarget apparatus, and Row L809 shows its apparatus, and displays a typeof the process job processed by the operator having this IC card. In thepresent embodiment, since the apparatus ID=100 shows a complicatedmachine comprising scanner, copy, and printer functions, the scan job,the copy job, and the print job can be processed.

Next, Row L810 specifies whether or not the tilt correction of the readimage data is executed by using the complication machine (apparatusID=100) in case the scan job is processed by this apparatus. Dependingon a type of the apparatus, there are cases where the tilt correctionfunction is not available or even if the tilt correction function isavailable, its accuracy is low. In such cases, there are instances wherethe tilt correction is not performed by the scanner apparatus, but ascan data is transmitted to the PC, and the tilt correction is made onthe PC, thereby obtaining a good result. Hence, the operator performs inadvance the specification of Row L810 according to the preference of theoperator and the capacity of each apparatus.

Row L811 specifies whether or not an OCR processing is executed by thisMFP (apparatus ID=100) in case the scan job is similarly processed.Similarly, while Row L812 specifies whether or not a stable processingis executed by using this apparatus (apparatus ID=100) at the printtime, according to the staple function of the apparatus, there is alimit on the number of sheets capable of stapling, and in case thenumber of sheets involved is large, there are instances where thestapling is performed by using another finisher, thereby obtaining agood result. Hence, the operator performs in advance the specificationof Row L812 according to the preference of the operator and the capacityof each apparatus.

Row L813 and Row L814 similarly specify whether or not a punchprocessing and a cutting processing at the print time are executed bythe apparatus. Similarly, Rows L815 to L819 are for setting up inadvance the processing method in case this operator uses the apparatusof the apparatus ID=100, and Rows L820 to L825 are for setting up inadvance the processing method in case this operator uses the apparatusof the apparatus ID=102.

<Operation in Operation Unit of Image Processing Apparatus in FirstEmbodiment>

FIG. 10 is a display screen of the information on the process job in theapparatus operation unit in the first embodiment. When the operatorloads his own IC card to the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 10, the processjob in charge of the operator having the IC card, and moreover, theinformation on the process job processed by using the present apparatusare displayed in the apparatus operation unit.

The information on the process job displayed can be selected by a scanjob view button 67, a copy job view button 68, a print job view button69, and all job button 70. When the control unit 55 of the imageprocessing apparatus recognizes a button selected by the operator,according to the selection, the information on the process job displayedto the apparatus operation unit 54 is changed. For example, the state ofFIG. 10 is a display state in case all process job view 70 is selected,and the “all” is displayed also in Row L901. In the present embodiment,when the control unit 55 of the image processing apparatus recognizesthat “all job view” is selected, Rows L904 to L907 are displayed withthe information on the process job regarding the operator A loaded withthe IC card and all the information on the process job processable byusing the present apparatus.

This display sequence is sort-displayed by depressing a sort button 71by a delivery data and a sort button 72 by a type of the process job foreach item. The operator selects the process job to be executed from thislist of process jobs by depressing up and down keys 63 or 64. In FIG.10, a state in which the scan job of the copy order of an order ID“0055” is selected is displayed. When a process job is selected and aselector button 65 is depressed, the screen is shifted to the detailedinformation screen of each process job to be described later by FIGS. 11to 12.

Further, in case a sensor unit of the original loading unit detects thatan original is loaded on the original loading unit of the image readingunit 51, the fact that the original is loaded on the original loadingunit is notified to the control unit 55 of the image processingapparatus form the sensor unit, and the control unit 55 recognizing thisinformation preferentially displays it in the operation unit 54 so thatthe scan job and the copy job are processed faster than the print jobsince there is every possibility of the scan or copy processing beingperformed by the operator. Specifically, the list of the displaysequence is changed so that the start of the display sequence becomesthe scan or copy job.

By so doing, the information on the process job about to be executed bythe user is automatically displayed at a position easily recognizable bythe operator, and therefore, even in case the information on a largenumber of process jobs is displayed in the operation unit, it isrelatively easy to detect the information on the process jobs scheduledto be processed.

FIG. 11 is a detailed display screen of the scan job in the operationunit 54 of the image processing apparatus to be shifted in case thecontrol unit 55 recognizes that the order ID “0055” which is a scan jobin FIG. 10 is selected. Numeral 74 of FIG. 11 is displayed with generalinformation in case a scan job of Row L904 is selected from among thepieces of information on the process job displayed in the operation unit54 of FIG. 10. Next, each parameter such as a type of the original, asize of the original, a color or monochrome classification of theoriginal, one side or both side classification of the original, a nameof the original, and the like specified by the orderer regarding thescan job in the area of Numeral 75 is recognized by the control unit 55and is displayed in the operation unit 54.

The area of Numeral 76 of FIG. 11 is displayed with execution parameterswhich are the processing method in case the scan job is actuallyperformed. Numeral 77 of FIG. 11 is displayed with keys for changingeach parameter. When the changing target is selected by a left to rightkey (not shown), the key which became the changing target is reversed,and in that state, when the left to right key (not shown) is depressed,other setup values of each setup item are displayed in the place ofNumeral 76. Usually, while the parameters at the order entry timelocated in the place of Numeral 75 are recognized by the control unit55, and are automatically copied to the area of Numeral 76, in case theorderer makes a wrong order or the like, the operator operates the keysof Numeral 77, so that each parameter can be changed. Speaking of theexample of FIG. 11, in case the orderer specifies his original as a bookoriginal, but the delivered original is a sheet original, an executionvalue is changed to a sheet original by the operator, and the controlunit 55 which recognizes the change renews a display content of thedisplay unit 54.

Further, while the orderer specifies a PDF+OCR processing as a format,in case the control unit 55 recognizes that no execution of the OCRprocessing by this apparatus by this operator is selected in Row L811 ofthe processing method setup information as described in FIG. 9, anexecution value is automatically changed to a PDF only. However, even incase the execution value is automatically reflected as a default value,it is possible to change the value by the operator by the key in Numeral77. Further, in case the value is not reflected in the execution valueof the image processing apparatus, after performing a scan by this imageprocessing apparatus, by using a PC of another apparatus (operator PC9-1 or operator PC 9-2), an OCR processing and a punch processing areexecuted. Further, with regard to the destination, in the case of asimple scan job, while it is transmitted by mail and the like to theorderer as it is from the apparatus, in the case of a complicated scanjob requiring the process, the scanned image data is once transmitted tothe PC of the operator A, and the process work may be performed on thePC by the operator A, and in that case, the destination is changed tothe operator A.

After having confirmed various types of parameters and having performedcorrections as required, when a setup storage button 79 is depressed,storage information stored in the order management information storageunit 45 within the order management apparatus 4 described in FIG. 7 isrenewed. Next, when a scan execution is performed, a scan is executedaccording to the parameters of Numeral 76 specified as an executionvalue, and the scan data is transmitted to the specified destination.Further, the number of pages of the original is counted by a documentfeeder (not shown), and the value actually read is reflected in theexecution value.

Since the parameters thus specified by the orderer can be automaticallyset up as the execution value, the trouble of inputting each time by theoperator can be saved. Further, in case the processing method setupinformation specified in the IC card and the parameters specified by theorderer are different, the processing method setup information specifiedin the IC card is given a preference, and the execution parameters areautomatically changed.

Further, the operator can determine whether or not the parametersspecified by the orderer such as a type and a size of the original, oneside or both-sides and the like are correct at a site of the apparatusimmediately before performing the scan, and can make corrections on thespot.

FIG. 12 is a detail display screen of the print job in the apparatuscontrol unit, which is shifted when an order ID “0081” being a print jobin FIG. 10 is selected. While its configuration is the same as FIG. 11,the execution parameters being the processing method for print aredisplayed. Further, the setup regarding a finishing processing such as apunch cutting, a cutting setup, and the like can be automaticallyreflected as it is in the execution value of this apparatus according tothe setup similarly to Rows L812 to L814 of the processing method setupinformation described in FIG. 9. In case the setup is not reflected inthe execution value of this apparatus, after the print by thisapparatus, by using the finisher of another apparatus, the punchprocessing and the cutting processing are executed.

When various types of parameters are confirmed in FIG. 12 and, afterperforming corrections as required, when the setup storage button isdepressed, the storage information stored in the order managementinformation storage unit 45 within the order management apparatus 4described in FIG. 7 is renewed, and on occasion when a reprint isexecuted, the print is executed according to the parameters specified asthe execution value.

While being omitted in the present embodiment, with regard to the copyjob, the same processing as FIGS. 11 and 12 is performed.

The order entry parameters as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are theparameters set up by the orderer of the order at the order entry time,and these parameters are automatically reflected as the executionparameters of the apparatus. This allows the operator to have no use forsetting up all the execution parameters of the apparatus, and all heneeds to do is to change only what he desires to change according to thestate of the apparatus, and this leads to the improvement of theoperability.

FIG. 26 is a detail display screen of a delivery voucher print job inthe apparatus control unit, which is shifted when a delivery job isselected in FIG. 10. While the configuration thereof is the same as FIG.11, parameters for use of the delivery voucher print are displayed. InFIG. 26, after having confirmed various types of parameters and havingperformed corrections as required, when the setup storage button isdepressed, the order management information within the output footholdserver as described in FIG. 7 is renewed. Next, when the deliveryvoucher print execution is performed, the delivery voucher print isexecuted according to the parameter specified as the execution value.For example, the delivery voucher for use in the inter-office delivery,the delivery voucher for a home delivery service man A, the deliveryvoucher for a home delivery service man B, and the like are printed bythis apparatus according to a type of the delivery. The operatordispatches a copy matter a printed matter, and a book binding matterattached with this delivery voucher, and hence, taking a trouble oftranscribing the address for delivery becomes unnecessary, andtranscription mistakes can be also prevented.

<Configuration of Order Management Apparatus>

A block diagram showing a configuration of the order managementapparatus 4 is shown in FIG. 13. The order management apparatus 4configures the entire order management apparatus 4 including aprocessing unit 80 and a peripheral apparatus. The processing unit 80includes a CPU 70 controlling the entire unit 80 according to a controlprogram, a bus 81 mutually connecting system configuration elements, aROM 71 storing the program executed by the CPU 70, a DRAM 72 for storingan order from the order entry Web server having received the order fromthe orderer, a graphic adaptor 74 comprising a control function fordisplaying graphic information in the display unit 77, for example, suchas LCD, a keyboard controller 76 for managing the interface with aninput apparatus 79 such as a keyboard and the like, and a network I/F 73being a serial interface for managing communications with the orderentry Web server 3 or the manger PC 10.

Further, the processing unit 80 is connected to a display unit 77 fordisplaying graphic information and the like to the operator through thegraphic adaptor 74. Further, the unit 80 comprises a hard disk drive(HDD) 78 being a large capacity storage apparatus stored with programsand data. While a description has been made in FIG. 13 that the ordermanagement apparatus 4 is connected to the manger PC, the ordermanagement apparatus 4 itself may be the manager PC.

<Control Flow 1 in Image Processing Apparatus>

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining a control flow of an imageprocessing apparatus 5 in the first embodiment. The processing of eachstep is performed by the control unit 55 for controlling the entireapparatus of the image processing apparatus 5.

When the control unit 55 recognizes that the apparatus is activated bythe user, it determines whether or not the IC card 58 is loaded to an ICcard reader writer 57 (S101), When the IC card is not loaded, anotherprocessing is performed (S102), and the procedure returns to step S101.Another processing referred to here means an ordinary copy or a scanprocessing other than the processing using the IC card in the presentembodiment.

At step S101, in case the control unit 55 recognizes that the IC card 58is loaded to the IC card reader writer 57, the information on the ICcard read by the IC card reader writer 57 is transmitted to the controlunit 55. The control unit 55, which recognizes the information on the ICcard, displays a screen in which the password 1 is inputted into theoperation unit 54. The control unit 55 recognizes the password 1inputted into the operation unit 54 of the image processing apparatus bythe operator, and compares the inputted password 1 and the password 1stored within the IC card, and determines whether or not the inputtedpassword 1 and the password 1 within the IC card are matched (S103).

As a result of the comparison, in case the control unit 55 determinesthat the inputted password 1 and the password 1 within the IC card arematched, the apparatus ID of the image processing unit loaded with theIC card by the operator and the information on the IC card aretransmitted to the order management apparatus 4 by the control unit 55through the network I/F 56 (S104: S104 is equivalent to transmittingmeans and transmitting process referred to in the present embodiment).The IC card information transmitted at step S104 may be at least anoperator ID displaying identification information on the operator whooperates the image processing apparatus. The type of the information onthe process job required at S104 is the information on the process jobprocessable by the operator in each apparatus within the processingmethod setup information as described in FIG. 9 which is within the ICcard for each operator. Speaking of the example of FIG. 9, in case theoperator A loads the IC card to the image processing apparatus of theapparatus ID=100, and a request for acquisition of the information onthe process job is made from the control unit 55 of the image processingapparatus of the apparatus ID=100 to the order management apparatus,this is equivalent to a request for all of the scan job, the copy job,and the print job in charge of the operator A made to the ordermanagement apparatus 4 according to the setup of the Row L809 of FIG. 9.

In the meantime, in case the operator A loads the IC card to the imageprocessing apparatus of the apparatus ID=101 and makes a request for theacquisition of the information on the process job from the control unit55 of the image processing apparatus of the apparatus ID=101 to theorder management apparatus 4, this is equivalent to a request for allscan jobs in charge of the operator A according to the setup of Row L817of FIG. 9.

The control unit 55 acquires the information on the process jobresponding to the information transmitted at step S104 from the ordermanagement apparatus 4 through the network I/F 56 (S105: S105 isequivalent to acquiring means and acquiring process referred to in thepresent embodiment). The information on the process job acquired at stepS105 means either the information on the process job for use ofexecution or the information on the process job for use of display.While the information on the process job acquired at step S105 means theinformation on the process job for use of execution, at this stage, theconfiguration may be such that the information on the process job foruse of display is acquired, and after that, the information on theprocess job for use of execution corresponding to the process jobselected by the operator is received, and this configuration will bedescribed later in FIG. 15. Further, the information on the process jobfor use of execution means electronic data which becomes a basis of thescan and print when the processing is made by using the apparatus, andthe processing method at the order time set up by the orderer. Asspecific examples, Numerals 42 and 43 shown in FIG. 7 can be cited.

Next, to display the information on a plurality of process jobs acquiredat step S105 in the operation unit 54, the control unit 55 transmits theinformation on a plurality of process jobs to the operation unit 54, anddisplays the information on a plurality of process jobs to be processedby the operator (S106: S106 is equivalent to display control means anddisplay process referred to in the present embodiment). The operationunit 54 has a configuration in which a touch panel is disposed, and thecontrol unit 55 recognizes which operation is specified by the operator(S107).

In case the control unit 55 recognizes that the operation at step S107is an instruction regarding the change of the display method on theinformation on the process jobs such as “a view of san jobs”, “a view ofprint jobs”, “sort by delivery date” and the like, the information onthe process jobs displayed or the display sequence according to thatinstruction is changed (S108), and the procedure returns to step S106,and renews the display content of the operation unit 54. In themeantime, at step S107, in case the control unit 55 recognizes that anyof the displayed information on the process jobs is selected by theoperator (equivalent to selecting means and selecting process referredto in the present embodiment), detailed information on the informationon the selected process jobs is displayed in the operation unit 54 inthe form such as FIGS. 11 and 12 (S109).

Next, the control unit 55 recognizes which operation is instructed bythe operator by using the touch panel of operation unit 54 (S110). Atstep S110, in case the control unit 55 recognizes that the change ofvarious types of execution parameters shown in Numeral 76 of FIG. 11 andNumeral 85 of FIG. 12 are instructed by the operator (S111), the controlunit 55 recognizes the parameters changed by the operator, and theprocedure returns to step S109 to display the change result in theoperation unit 54. In case the change of the parameters is not made bythe operator at step S111, as described above, the processing is movedforward according to the parameters at the order entry time or theprocessing method setup which is set up in the IC card.

In the meantime, at step S110, in case it is recognized that theexecution of the scan, the copy, the print and the like is instructed,the process job selected at step S107 is recognized, and an operation isexecuted (this is equivalent to executing means and executing processreferred to in the present embodiment). The execution here means thateach process job is processed by using an apparatus corresponding to thecurrent process, and for example, in case the information on the processjob in which the current process is a scan is acquired, the processingis performed by the image reading apparatus. In case the change ofparameters is made at step S111, the scan, the copy, and the print isexecuted by way of reflecting the changed parameters. To describe indetail, in case the execution instruction is the scan, the control unit55 executes the image reading unit 51 according to the executionparameters currently set up. Further, in case the executing instructionis a copy, the control unit 55 executes the image reading unit 51according to the execution parameters currently set up, and temporarilystores the read image data in the image memory 52. The control unit 55executes the image data stored in the image memory 52 in the imageforming unit 53 according to the execution parameters currently set up,and performs an image forming processing.

In case the control unit 55 recognizes that the execution of the scan,copy, print operations and the like are completed, the unit 55 transmitsthe execution result to the order management apparatus 4, therebycompleting the processing. (S112).

<Control flow 2 in Image Processing Apparatus>

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for acquiring the information on the process jobfor use of execution at step S105. However, as another configuration,the configuration may be such that the information on the process jobfor use of display is acquired from the order management apparatus, andthe information on the process job for use of execution corresponding tothe process job selected from the information on that process job foruse of display is received later. In this case, since the processingcontent of the image processing apparatus is different from theflowchart of FIG. 14, it will be shown in FIG. 15.

First, since steps S1201 to S1204 are the same as steps S101 to S104 ofFIG. 14, the description thereof are omitted. The control unit 55 of theimage processing apparatus acquires the information on the process jobcorresponding to the information transmitted at step S104 from the ordermanagement apparatus 4 through the network I/F 56 (S1205). Theinformation on the process job acquired at step S1205 means theinformation on the process job for use of display to be displayed in theoperation unit 54 of the image processing apparatus, and means theinformation displayed in the operation unit of the apparatus such asRows L904 and L905 of FIG. 10, and does not include the information onthe process job for use of execution.

Next, to display the information on a plurality of process jobs acquiredat step S1205 in the operation unit 54, the control unit 55 transmitsthe information on a plurality of process jobs to the operation unit 54,and displays the information on the process jobs to be processed by theoperator (S1206). The operation unit 54 has a configuration in which atouch panel is disposed, and the control unit 55 recognizes whichoperation is specified by the operator (S1207).

In case the control unit 55 recognizes that the operation at step S1207is an instruction regarding the change of the display method of theinformation on the process jobs such as “a view of san jobs”, “a view ofprint jobs”, “sort by delivery date” and the like, the information onthe process jobs displayed or the display sequence according to thatinstruction is changed (S1208), and the procedure returns to step S1206,and changes the display content of the operation unit 54. In themeantime, at step S1207, in case the control unit 55 recognizes that anyof the displayed information on the process jobs is selected, theinformation on the process jobs for use of execution corresponding tothe information on the selected process jobs is received (S1209). Thisis a point greatly different from the flowchart of FIG. 14. Theadvantage of this point will be described later.

Next, the control unit 55 transmits the detail of the information on theprocess jobs for use of execution received at step S1209 to theoperation unit 54 and displays it (S1210), and recognizes whichoperation is instructed by the operator by using the touch panel of theoperation unit 54 (S1211). In case the control unit 55 recognizes thatthe change of various types of execution parameters displayed in Numeral76 of FIG. 11 and Numeral 85 of FIG. 12 is instructed by the operator atstep S1211 (S1212), the parameters changed by the operator arerecognized by the control unit 55, and the procedure returns to stepS1210 to display the change result in the operation unit 54. In case thechange of the parameters is not instructed by the operator at stepS1211, as described above, the processing is moved forward according tothe parameters or the processing method setup which is set up in the ICcard at the order entry time.

In the meantime, at step S1211, in case it is recognized that theexecution of the scan, the copy, the print and the like is instructed,the information on the on process job for use of execution received atthe step S1209 is recognized and, and an operation is executed. In casethe change of parameters is performed at step S1212, the scan, the copy,and the print are executed by way of reflecting the parameters havingbeen changed.

In case the control unit 55 recognizes that the execution of the scan,copy, print operations and the like are completed, the unit 55 transmitsthe execution result to the order management apparatus 4, therebycompleting the processing (S1213).

While, in the flowchart of FIG. 14, while the information on the processjob for use of execution has been received at the point of time of S105,in the present flowchart, the information on the process job for use ofdisplay is once acquired, and the information on the process job for useof execution corresponding to the process job selected from theinformation on that process job is received. In this manner, in theflowchart of FIG. 14, while the operator loaded with the IC card hasreceived all the information on the jobs for use of execution processedby using the present image processing apparatus, in the flowchart ofFIG. 15, only the information on the process jobs for use of executionselected by the operator can be received, and this leads to the savingof the HD 60 being the storage unit of the image processing apparatusand the reduction in the amount of transmission and reception data ofthe network.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the information on theprocess job displayed in the operation unit of the apparatus is aprocess job in charge of the operator carrying the IC card, and theinformation on the process job processable by the apparatus loaded withthe IC card is displayed. In this manner, the operator can keep track ofthe process job in charge of himself by the operation unit only of theapparatus without moving back and force between the PC loaded with theworkflow system and the apparatus.

<Process Job Transmission Flow in Order Management Apparatus>

Subsequently, a flow on occasion when the information on the process jobis transmitted from the order management apparatus 4 to the imageprocessing apparatus will be described in FIG. 16.

The CPU 70 of the order management apparatus 4 receives an order fromthe orderer received by the Web server 3 through the network I/F 73, andstores it in the DRAM 72 (S1101). Subsequently, from the order stored atstep S1101 by the manger PC 10 connected with the order managementapparatus 4, the process job of each work processed by each operator isgenerated, and that process job is recognized by the CPU 70 of the ordermanagement apparatus 4 (S1102). The information recognized at step S1102means the information on the operator in charge of the processing ofeach process job allotted by the manager PC 10, the progressiveinformation of each order changed by the manger PC 10 and the like. Theinformation recognized at step S1102 is stored by the order managementcontrol storage unit 45 within the order management apparatus 4 by wayof a form as shown in FIG. 7. To described in detail, the DRAM 72 of theorder management apparatus 4 stores the information.

The CPU 70 of the order management apparatus 4 receives the apparatus IDand the IC card information transmitted from the image processingapparatus at step S104 of FIG. 14, and recognizes the content of eachinformation (S1104). Based on the information recognized at step S1104,the CPU 70 extracts the information on the process job corresponding tothe information included in the apparatus ID and the IC card from theDRAM 72 stored at steps S1103 (S1105). The information on the processjob extracted here means the information on the process job for use ofexecution actually executed in the image processing apparatus or theinformation on the process job for use of display which is displayed inthe operation unit 54 of the image processing apparatus.

Based on this information on the IC card and the apparatus ID recognizedat step S1104, the information on the process job processable by theoperator by using the image processing apparatus of the transmittingsource is extracted from the DRAM 72. Here, to have a betterunderstanding about the present steps, a description will be made byusing a specific example.

For example, in case the operator A loads the IC card of FIG. 9 to theimage processing apparatus of the apparatus ID=101, the informationrecognized by the CPU 70 of the order management apparatus 4 is theinformation on the IC card of FIG. 9 and the apparatus ID=101 of thetransmitting source. In case the apparatus ID=101 is used for the ICcard of FIG. 9, it is described that the scan only can be executed.Hence, the CPU 70 of the order management apparatus 4, which recognizesthe information on the IC card and the apparatus ID, extracts the scanjob only in charge of the operator A from the information on the processjob stored at step S1103 from the DRAM 72, because the transmittedapparatus ID is the apparatus ID=101 which processes the scan job only.

The CPU 70 transmits the information on the process job extracted atstep S1105 to the image processing apparatus through the network I/F(S1106).

In this manner, the information on the process job transmitted from theorder management apparatus 4 is recognized by the control unit 55 of theapparatus, and the procedure is moved forward to the processingsubsequent to the step S105 in FIG. 14 and step S1205 of FIG. 15.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention is different from the firstembodiment regarding the configuration of an apparatus operation unitand an extracting method on occasion of extracting the process job of anorder management apparatus 4 or the order management apparatus 4, whichstores an apparatus schedule function. Hence, a description will be madeonly on the different point from the first embodiment.

<Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus in Second Embodiment>

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus in thesecond embodiment. The different point with the first embodiment is thatthe order management apparatus 4 has an apparatus scheduler 106. Theapparatus scheduler 106 is for scheduling by which apparatus and howsoon each process job is executed, each process job being each processof each order stored by the order management apparatus 4,

FIG. 18 is a screen of the access soft from a manger PC 10 to the ordermanagement apparatus 4 in the second embodiment. The difference withFIG. 6 being the same screen in the first embodiment is that theexecution schedule date and hour and the execution schedule apparatus ofeach process of each order are specified. For example, Row L1003 showsthat the process job of the order of an order ID “0055” is scheduled tobe executed between 13:00 hours and 13:30 hours of December 8 by anapparatus A. This execution scheduled date and hour and the executionapparatus can be set up by selecting changing alternations by the pulldown lists of Numerals 112 and 113 within FIG. 18 in a state in whichthe process job is selected and by depressing an execution scheduleddate and hour/apparatus change key 114. However, a combination of theexecution date and hour and the apparatus previously reserved cannot bechanged.

In FIG. 18, for simplification of explanation, regarding pluralprocesses of the order, while the scheduled date and hour and theexecution scheduled apparatus cannot be specified, it is possible tomake reservations in advance for plural processes. Further, in thepresent embodiment, while an operator PC can be reserved as an apparatusfor executing an editing process, in place of the operator PC, theoperator itself may be reserved, and in case of reserving the operator,a double booking can be made.

<Operation in Operation Unit of Image Processing Apparatus in SecondEmbodiment>

FIG. 19 is a display screen of the information on the process job of theoperation unit of an apparatus A in the second embodiment. A fistdifference with FIG. 10 being the same screen in the first embodiment isthat the execution scheduled date and hour of each process/job and theexecution scheduled apparatus are displayed. For example, Row L1104shows that the scan process and the process job of the order of an orderID “0055” are scheduled to be executed by an apparatus A between 13:00hours and 13:30 hours of December 8th, and Row L1105 shows that theprint process and the process job of the order of an order ID “0081” arescheduled to be executed by either this apparatus A or an apparatus Cbetween 13:40 hours and 14:00 hours of December 8th. In case theexecution is scheduled by a plurality of apparatuses, the operatorselects any one of the apparatuses, and by instructing the execution bythe operation unit of that apparatus, the processing is performed bythat apparatus only. In this manner, in FIG. 19, display is limited onlyfor the information on the process job specifying the apparatus A or theinformation on the process job for which a processing apparatus is notyet determined, and the information on the process job for which anotherapparatus is specified is not displayed even if the processing contentis the same.

A second difference with FIG. 10 is that the information on the processjob can be sorted by a sort key 123 sorting by the execution scheduleddate and hour, and by a sort key 124 sorting by the execution apparatus.When the control unit 55 of the apparatus A recognizes that the sort key123 is depressed by the executing scheduled date or the sort key 124 isdepressed by the execution apparatus, the display sequence of theoperation unit is changed and displayed according to the depressedbutton.

In this manner, it is possible not only to easily keep track of theprocess/job close to the execution scheduled date and hour, but also toeasily keep track of the process/job reserved by this apparatus only.

<Control Flow of Image Processing Apparatus in Second Embodiment>

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of the image processing apparatus in the secondembodiment. Since the steps S201 to S203 are the same as steps S101 toS103 of the flowchart in FIG. 14 of the first embodiment, thedescription thereof will be omitted. As a result of comparison, in casethe control unit 55 recognizes that the inputted password and thepassword 1 within the IC card are matched, the apparatus ID of the imageprocessing apparatus loaded with the IC card by the operator, theinformation on the IC card and a request schedule range are transmittedto the order management apparatus 4 through the network I/F 56 (S204).The request schedule range specifies a request for information regardingwhich range the process job is scheduled on the basis of the currentdate and hour, and for example, it is possible to request for theinformation only on the process job reserved for the current day.

The control unit 55 acquires the IC card information transmitted at stepS204, the apparatus ID, and the information on the process jobcorresponding to the request schedule range from the order managementapparatus 4 through the network I/F 56 S205). Since the processingsubsequent after this is the same as subsequent to the step S106 of FIG.14, the description thereof will be omitted. Further, at the step S205,while the reception of the information on the process job for use ofexecution is assumed, a configuration may be such that the informationon the process job for use of display displayed in the operation unit 54is acquired, and after that, the information on the process job for useof execution corresponding to the process job selected by the operatormay be received.

Further, the difference between the first embodiment and the secondembodiment in the order management apparatus will be described. In thesecond embodiment, since the IC card information, the apparatus ID, andthe request schedule range are received from the image processingapparatus, the CPU 70 of the order management apparatus extracts theinformation on the appropriate process job from the DRAM 72 on the basisof the IC card information, the apparatus ID, and the request schedulerange, and transmits it to the image processing apparatus. Otherprocessings are the same as the first embodiment, and therefore, thedescription thereof will be omitted.

As described above, in the second embodiment, since a processingapparatus is specified in advance for every processing job by the ordermanagement apparatus 4, the information on the process job displayed inthe operation unit of the apparatus is a process job in charge of theoperator carrying the IC card, which is the information on the processjob specified to be processed by the apparatus loaded with the IC cardand the information on the process job for which the processingapparatus is not yet determined, and moreover, is limited for theinformation corresponding to the requested schedule range. This limitsthe information on the process job displayed in the operation unit ofthe apparatus, and therefore, the operator can easily select the processjob to be processed.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment of the present invention is different from the firstand second embodiments regarding the workflow management function of theorder management apparatus 4. Hence, a description will be made only onthe different points.

<Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus in Third Embodiment>

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of an image reading apparatus in the thirdembodiment. The different point from the first and second embodiments isthat the order management apparatus 4 has a workflow management unit131. The workflow management unit 131 is for scheduling by whichapparatus and how soon each process job, which is each process of eachorder stored by the order management apparatus 4, is executed, and forspeeding up each process, while successively controlling the progressivestate. While the apparatus scheduler of the second embodiment has beenprovided with a simple function of making an execution reservation inadvance for each process job of each order, the workflow management unit131 of the present embodiment defines a processing workflow regarding bywhich process, by whom and when, and by which apparatus each order isprocessed, and notifies the operator of that defined processing workflowaccording to the progressive state of each process, and has also aworkflow progress function and the like of giving warning to the managerregarding an order delayed in processing. Further, a HD 60 may store acollection of comments to be transmitted to the next operator or managerat a processing completion time.

<Operation in Operation Unit of Image Processing Apparatus in ThirdEmbodiment>

FIG. 22 is a renewed screen of the workflow in the operation unit 54 ofthe image processing apparatus. In the scan execution screen of thefirst embodiment, when the scan execution is performed, the ordermanagement apparatus 4 is notified of the scan result, and then, theprocessing is completed. However, in the present embodiment, when ascan, a print, and a copy are executed, the execution screen as shown inFIG. 11 is shifted to the renewed screen of the workflow of FIG. 22. RowL201 of FIG. 22 displays the information on the process job, which isthe target of the current processing.

Numeral 142 of FIG. 22 displays with the information on the entireprocess/job of the order including the information on that process job.Speaking of the example of FIG. 22, it is shown that this order isprocessed by the workflow consisting of five processes such as an orderentry process, a scan process, an editing/processing process, a printprocess, and a delivery process, and at present, this order is at thesecond process being the scan process, and a person in charge is anoperator A, and the scan is scheduled to be performed by MFP-A at 15:00hours to 15:30 hours of December 7. In this manner, by displaying allthe process of the order, the future schedule and the entire progressivesituation can be easily traced. Further, the operator in charge of thenext process can be also traced.

Speaking of the example of FIG. 22, the operator A, after havingexecuted the scan process job by the image processing apparatus loadedwith the IC card, selects an operator B as the next operator at Numeral143 of FIG. 22 in the case of a normal completion, and selects theediting/processing process as the next process at Numeral 144 of FIG.22, and enters comments in Numeral 145 of FIG. 22 for the nextoperator/process. When an OK key 146 is depressed, these pieces ofinformation are recognized by the control unit 55, and are transmittedto the workflow management unit 131 within the order managementapparatus 4 through a network I/F. The comments referred to here meanmessages desired to be transmitted to the manager or the next processoperator from the operator having performed the processing. Thesecomments may be voluntarily prepared or these comments may be selectedfrom the collection of comments stored in advance in the HD 60 being thestorage unit of the image processing apparatus.

When the information from the image processing apparatus is recognizedby the CPU 70 of the order management apparatus, the process of theworkflow management unit progresses to the next process, and at the sametime, the operator of the next process is notified of the abovedescribed comments. In the meantime, in case there exists a problem in areceived original, and a scan is not normally performed, at Numeral 143of FIG. 22, a manger is selected as the next operator, and at Numeral144, an orderer confirmation is selected as the next process, and in thearea of Numeral 145, comments such as “there exists a problem in areceived original, and a scan is not normally performed” and the likeare entered for the manager, and the OK key 146 is depressed. Then,these pieces of information are transmitted to the workflow managementunit 131 within the order management apparatus 4, and the workflowprogresses, and at the same, time, the comments inputted earlier such as“there exists a problem in a received original, and a scan is notnormally performed” and the like are notified to the manager.

In this manner, by progressing up the workflow by using the operationunit 54 of the image processing apparatus or by allowing the processingprocess of the workflow to be changed, even the operator who is unableto use a PC and is at a low level in IT skill can control the workflowonly by using the operation unit of the apparatus.

Further, by inputting the comments into the next process by theapparatus operation unit 54, it is possible, for example, to perform thescan processing by the apparatus and also input detected points promptlyby the operation unit of the apparatus so as to be able to notify thenext process operator of the points, thereby reducing the transmissionleakage of the information.

<Control Flow of Image Processing Apparatus in Third Embodiment>

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the image processing apparatus in the thirdembodiment. Since steps S301 to S303 are the same as steps S101 to S103of FIG. 14, the description thereof will be omitted. As a result ofcomparison, in case the control unit 55 determines that the inputtedpassword and the password 1 within the IC card are matched, theapparatus ID of the image processing apparatus loaded with the IC cardby the operator, the information on the IC card, and the request processare transmitted to the order management apparatus 4 (S304). The requestprocess means a request for the information on the process job in thespecified process, and for example, when the scan process is specified,it is equivalent to a request for the information on the process job inthe current scan process. Similarly, specifying the print process andthe copy process is equivalent to a request for the information only onthe process job currently in the print process or the copy process.

Next, the control unit 55 acquires the IC card information transmittedat step S304, the information on the process job corresponding to theapparatus ID, and the information on the process job corresponding tothe request process, and the process information of at least thesubsequent stage of the appropriate process job from the ordermanagement apparatus 4 through the network I/F (S305). The informationon the process job acquired at step S305 is taken as the information onthe process job for use of execution. Further, the process informationreferred to here means the information on the processing process otherthan the present process job of the order including the present processjob displayed in Rows L1203 and L1205 to L1207 of FIG. 22, and means anoperator in charge of other processing processes, processing scheduleddate and hour, a processing scheduled apparatus and the like. Further,in the present patent application, the process information of at leastsubsequent stage may be displayed, and therefore, for example, even incase the subsequent stage of the present process job is displayed, theinformation at the preceding stage or the subsequent stage of thepresent process job may be displayed.

The processing of S306 to S311 is the same as that of S106 to S111 ofFIG. 13 and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, after executing a scan, copy or print theoperator inputs in the screen of FIG. 22 the next process, a person incharge of the next process, a comment for the next process and the likeand transmits the input information together with the process result ofthe present process to the order management apparatus 4 (S312).

In the present embodiment information on the process job for user ofexecution is acquired in step S305. However, a configuration may be suchthat only information on the process job for use of display to bedisplayed in the operation unit 54 is acquired and after thatinformation on the process job for user of execution corresponding tothe selected process job is received.

Further, the different points from the first and second embodiments inthe order management apparatus will be described. In the thirdembodiment, since the IC card information and the apparatus ID, therequest process are received from the image processing apparatus, theCPU 70 of the order management apparatus extracts the appropriateinformation on the process job from the DRAM 72 based on the IC cardinformation, the apparatus ID and the request process, and transmits itto the image processing apparatus. Other processings are the same as thefirst and second embodiments, and therefore, the description thereofwill be omitted.

As described above, in the third embodiment, the information on theprocess job displayed in the operation unit of the apparatus is aprocess job in charge of the operator carrying the IC card, and togetherwith the information on the process job specified to be processed by theapparatus loaded with the IC card, the information on other processesrelating to the information on that process job are also displayed. Inthis manner, the information on the process job displayed in theoperation unit of the apparatus is limited, and thus it becomes not onlyeasy to select the information, but also easy to transmit the commentsto the operator of other processes or the manager.

Further, another configuration of the third embodiment will be shown asfollows. This configuration is a combination of the second and thirdembodiments, and only a part of the flowchart shown in FIG. 23 isdifferent. Hence, the different point alone will be described.

At steps S304, as the information to be transmitted to the ordermanagement apparatus, together with the apparatus ID of the imageprocessing apparatus loaded by the operator, the IC card information,and the request process, the request schedule range is transmitted tothe order management apparatus 4. This is the different point asdescribed above. In this manner, displayed in the operation unit of theapparatus is the information on the process job in charge of theoperator carrying the IC card, and it is the information on the processjob specified to be processed by the apparatus loaded with the IC card,and at the same time, it is the information on the process jobcorresponding to the request process and the request schedule range. Inthis manner, it is possible to further limit the information on theprocess job displayed in the operation unit of the apparatus.

The different points regarding the processing content of an operatormanagement apparatus at this time will be described. In case the secondand third embodiments are combined, the combined embodiments receive theIC card information transmitted from the image processing apparatus, theapparatus ID, the request schedule range, and the request process, andtherefore, the CPU 70 of the order management apparatus extracts theinformation on the appropriate process job from the DRAM 72 based on theIC card information, the apparatus ID, the request schedule range, andthe request process to transmit it to the image processing apparatus.Other processings are the same as the first and second embodiments, andtherefore, the description thereof will be omitted.

In each of the above described embodiments, while the contact type ICcard 58 and the contact type IC card reader writer 57 have been used, anon-contact type radio type IC card and a radio type IC card readerwriter may be used. Further, not only a radio wave type IC card, butalso those of a non contact type and capable of exchanging operatoridentification information and service list information may be used. Forexample, a mobile phone, PHS, PDA or an infrared communication systemcan be cited. Further, a configuration in which the operator directlyinputs the password into the operation unit of the apparatus and aconfiguration in which the operator identification information isacquired by bio-certification means such as a finger print recognitionmay be used.

Further, in the above described embodiments, while the display of theinformation on the process job and the selection of the process job andthe like have been performed by the operation unit 54 of the apparatus,the operation unit 105 of a front end PC 106 used with the apparatus 5exclusively on one for one base may be used.

In each of the above described embodiments, in case a request for theinformation on the process job is received from the apparatus, the CPU70 of the order management apparatus 4 performs the processing ofextracting the process job corresponding to the apparatus ID. However,instead of performing the extracting processing based on the apparatusID by the CPU 70 of the order management apparatus 4, the control unitof the apparatus side may perform the extracting processing based on theapparatus ID.

Further, in each of the above described embodiments, while the ordermanagement apparatus 4 and various types of the apparatuses have beenconnected by the Intranet, the same applies to the case where the ordermanagement apparatus 4 exists on the Internet.

The present invention has an advantage of being able to provide a systemin which the image processing apparatus and the workflow server areconnected, and by using the operation unit only of the image processingapparatus without using a PC, the workflow of the operator in thecentralized copy room and the print center of the company can besmoothly moved forward.

This application claims priorities from Japanese Patent Application Nos.2004-208632 filed on Jul. 15, 2004, and 2005-145530 filed on May 18,2005, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

1.-30. (canceled)
 31. A work processing apparatus for receiving aprocess job from an order management apparatus controlling an order froman orderer, comprising: a transmitting unit configured to transmitidentification information of an operator and identification informationof the work processing apparatus to the order management apparatus; anacquiring unit configured to acquire information of the process jobextracted by the order management apparatus in response to theidentification information of the operator and the identificationinformation of the work processing apparatus transmitted by thetransmitting unit; and a display control unit configured to control adisplay device to display the information of a plurality of process jobsacquired by the acquiring unit.
 32. A work processing apparatusaccording to claim 31, further comprising a selecting unit configured toselect the process job to be executed from among the information of aplurality of process jobs displayed by the display control unit; and anexecuting unit configured to execute the process job selected by theselecting unit.
 33. A work processing apparatus according to claim 31,wherein the information of the process job acquired by the acquiringunit is information of the process job for use of execution to beexecuted by the executing unit.
 34. A work processing apparatusaccording to claim 31, wherein the information of the process jobacquired by the acquiring unit is information of the process job for useof display to be displayed on the display device by the display controlunit, and wherein the information of the process job for use ofexecution corresponding to the process job selected by the selectingunit is received from the order management apparatus.
 35. A workprocessing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the work processingapparatus is a multi function peripheral apparatus having an imagereading function and an image forming function.
 36. A work processingapparatus according to claim 31, wherein the information of the processjob for use of execution received from the order management apparatusincludes a processing method, and wherein the executing unit executesthe information of the process job for use of execution according to theprocessing method.
 37. A work processing apparatus according to claim31, further comprising; an original detecting unit configured todetermine whether or not there is an original on an original coy board;and wherein the display control unit has a changing unit configured toallow a scan job or a copy job to be changed in a display sequence so asto be processed earlier than a print job if it is determined by theoriginal detecting means that there is an original.
 38. A workprocessing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the transmittingunit transmits a request schedule range, and wherein the acquiring unitacquires the information of the process job corresponding to the requestschedule range.
 39. A work processing apparatus according to claim 31,wherein the transmitting unit transmits a request process, and whereinthe acquiring unit acquires the information of the process jobcorresponding to the request process.
 40. A work processing apparatusaccording to claim 31, wherein the acquiring unit acquires not only theinformation of the process job, but also the information of the processjob of at least the subsequent stage of the process job.
 41. A workprocessing apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising: aninputting unit configured to input comments to a manager or an operatorat least at the process job of the subsequent stage; and a commenttransmitting unit configured to transmit the comments inputted by theinputting unit to the manager or the operator at least at the process ofthe subsequent stage.
 42. A work processing method in an work processingapparatus for receiving an process job from an order managementapparatus controlling an order from an orderer, the method comprising:transmitting identification information of an operator andidentification information of the work processing apparatus to the ordermanagement apparatus; acquiring information of the process job extractedby the order management apparatus in response to the identificationinformation of the operator and the identification information of thework processing apparatus transmitted in the transmitting; anddisplaying the information of a plurality of process jobs acquired inthe acquiring on a display device.
 43. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that causesa computer to execute a work processing method in an work processingapparatus for receiving an process job from an order managementapparatus controlling an order from an order, the method comprising:transmitting identification information of an operator andidentification information of the work processing apparatus to the ordermanagement apparatus; acquiring information of the process job extractedby the order management apparatus in response to the identificationinformation of the operator and the identification information of thework processing apparatus transmitted in the transmitting; anddisplaying the information of a plurality of process jobs acquired inthe acquiring on a display device.